Association Between Step Count Measured With a Smartphone App (Pain-Note) and Pain Level in Patients With Chronic Pain: Observational Study

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability, affecting between 20% and 50% of the global population. The key recommended treatment is physical activity, which can be measured in daily life using a pedometer. However, poor adherence to pedometer use can result in incorrect measurements. Furthermore, only a few studies have investigated a possible curvilinear association between physical activity and chronic pain. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we developed the Pain-Note smartphone app to collect real-world data on step count, using the smartphone’s built-in pedometer. The aims of our research are (1) to evaluate the association between daily step count and pain level among patients with chronic pain and (2) determine if the association between daily step count and pain level was curvilinear. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on step count data collected with the app and on the results of questionnaires, which measured the duration and intensity of pain, the widespread pain index, the symptom severity score, and the insomnia severity scale, including 7 questions for symptoms of depression. We analyzed the association between step count and pain level as a nonlinear relationship using a restricted cubic spline model. A prespecified subgroup analysis was also conducted based on fibromyalgia criteria. RESULTS: Between June 1, 2018, and June 11, 2020, a total of 6138 records were identified, of which 1273 were analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 38.7 years, 81.9% (1043/1273) were female, and chronic pain was present for more than 5 years in 43.2% (550/1273) of participants. Participants in the third and fourth quartiles for step count (more than 3045 and 5668 steps a day, respectively) showed a significant positive association between higher step count and lower numerical pain rating scale (mean difference –0.43, 95% CI –0.78 to –0.08, P=.02; –0.45; 95% CI –0.8 to –0.1, P=.01, respectively) than those in the first quartile (less than or equal to 1199 steps a day). The restricted cubic spline model for the association between step count and pain scale displayed a steep decline followed by a moderate decrease as the step count increased; the inflection point was 5000 steps. However, this association was not observed among participants who met the fibromyalgia criteria (491/1273), who showed a steep positive increase below 2000 steps. Data were collected between June 1, 2018, and June 11, 2020, and were analyzed on November 18, 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Step count measured with the Pain-Note app showed a nonlinear association with pain level. Although participants with and without fibromyalgia showed a negative correlation between step count and pain level, participants who meet the criteria for fibromyalgia may present a different relationship between walking and pain perception compared to those in the general chronic pain population.